Collins
Work on your
idioms
Sandra Anderson, Julie Moore & Cheryl Pelteret
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Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Knowledge and understanding Memory and mind Communicating Priorities and decisions Relationships Help and encouragement Involvement and interest Starting and stopping Effort Honesty and fairness Deception Anger and irritation Fear and frustration Disagreement Success and failure Progress Expectation Trouble and difficulty Safety and risk Money Authority and control Limitations and restrictions Loving and liking Happiness and sadness Health, illness, and death
Appendices Understanding idioms Study tips American English alternatives Answer key Index
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UNIT 2 Exercise 9 Match sentence halves 1–5 with A–E. 1 2 3 4 5
I always keep in mind It never crossed my mind We’ve been racking our brains My gut reaction is Keep this in mind
A that anything bad would happen. B that it’s the right thing to do but I can’t say exactly why. C that I still need something else to rely on. D to figure out when this could have been. E when making plans.
Exercise 10 Complete the table with idioms from this unit. remembering and forgetting
1 2 3 4 5
thinking
1 2 3 4 5
not thinking logically
1 2 3
Your turn! Have you had trouble remembering something in the last few days? Use the idioms from this unit to describe your experience. For example: I couldn’t remember the Italian word for butterfly yesterday although it was on the tip of my tongue. Sometimes I have a mind like a sieve and by the afternoon, I can’t recall anything from my morning lessons. Have you got a mind like a sieve?
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UNIT 3 Exercise 1 Match phrases 1–8 with A–H to make idioms from this unit. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
go off at get your wires to be keep someone spill touch let the cat out of take it
A B C D E F G H
the bag base a tangent the beans from me posted at cross purposes crossed
Exercise 2 Complete the sentences with the words in the box. Some of the sentences have more than one answer. out | from | at | in | off | on 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Keep me the loop, will you? I wish she wouldn’t keep going off a tangent. We heard a rumour the grapevine. You can take it me that we will be negotiating very hard. I heard all this straight the horse’s mouth. I think they were arguing cross purposes there. She promised me she wouldn’t let the cat of the bag. She really came of her shell when the singing started.
COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL The image here is of a snail or shellfish, both of which go into their shells for protection.
Exercise 3 Do the sentences A and B have similar or opposite meanings? 1 A He realised they were talking at cross purposes. B He realised they’d got their wires crossed. 2 A Her sister let the cat out of the bag. B Her sister spilled the beans. 3 A I heard about it through the grapevine. B I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth. 4 A Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted. B Don’t worry, I’ll keep you in the loop.
GET YOUR WIRES/ LINES CROSSED People used to say they had a crossed line when their phone call was connected wrongly and they could hear someone else’s conversation.
Exercise 4 Re-order the phrases to make sentences. Add punctuation where necessary. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
true / it must be / here in black and white / because it’s as you develop / keep me / the idea / in the loop every week to / touch base / we meet / have lunch and was moving / that the discussion /off on a tangent / I thought she was doing / she asked him to / on how / keep her posted paid / the office cleaner to / the newspaper reporter / spill the beans the issue of / find common ground on / they managed to / rates of pay going away / the family agreed that / would bring him out of his shell / to university
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Exercise 5 Make sentences 1–6 less formal. Replace the underlined words with the correct idioms A–F. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I haven’t heard any news yet, but I’ll inform you. It was meant to be a surprise, but someone gave the secret away. I heard a rumour that Penny and Alan are getting married. It must be true. I heard it from a reliable source. Let’s meet up next week just to make contact again. They support different teams but they agreed with each other over drug cheats.
A B C D E F
let the cat out of the bag heard on the grapevine keep you posted found common ground heard it straight from the horse’s mouth touch base
TOUCH BASE In baseball, batters have to touch the first, second, and third bases to score a run.
Exercise 6 Match idioms 1–6 with situations A–F. 1 Jo and Dee learnt that Bud was being fired when Baz told them what he’d heard from Amit. 2 First the professor was talking about dinosaurs, then somehow it was the price of oranges! 3 This diamond was found by a workman on a building site. He told me about it himself. 4 You can see that she’s a great researcher – look at her record. 5 I thought we were going to the cinema and he thought I was cooking him dinner! 6 Nobody knew about the baby until Suzi mentioned maternity leave.
A B C D E F
We got our wires crossed. I got it from the horse’s mouth. She let the cat out of the bag. They heard it on the grapevine. Don’t just take it from me. He went off at a tangent.
GO OFF ON A TANGENT In geometry, a tangent is a straight line which touches a curve at one point.
Exercise 7 Match sentence halves 1–5 with A–E. 1 2 3 4 5
I’d rather it came We saw it written down It’s important to keep everyone The groups seem to be working Now she’s threatening to
A B C D E
in the loop. at cross purposes. spill the beans. from the horse’s mouth. in black and white.
Exercise 8 Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentences. In some cases, more than one answer is possible. 1 2 3 4 5 6
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UN mediators have been unable to find common ground between / of / with the two sides. Keep me posted in / on / to how you get on. An insider has spilled the beans about / on / of life in the White House. I take 15 minutes to touch base at / to / with the head of department. I’m sure Liz and I could find some common ground between / on / with some issues. She finally decided to spill the beans for / to / with the press.
Work on your Idioms Communicating
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UNIT 13 Exercise 1 Choose the best answer to complete the sentences. 1 I had in my stomach before I walked out onto the stage. a creeps b butterflies 2 I’ve written to the newspapers until I’m blue in the a face b skin 3 The door suddenly banged and frightened the a life b leaf
c nerves
but they do nothing. c feet out of me. c wits
4 After the car alarm went off, getting the key stuck in the lock was the last a edge b straw c word 5 I’m at the end of my a tether
– I can’t find my credit card anywhere. b mind
6 Could you please stop for a moment and let me get a a straw b foot
.
c nerves
in edgeways? c word
Exercise 2 Choose the correct explanation for each sentence. 1 There was so much red tape involved in getting a visa. a It was expensive. b There were a lot of official documents to complete. 2 I’m at the end of my tether. a I’ve really had enough of this situation.
b I’ve finished my task.
3 I nearly jumped out of my skin! a Something made me laugh.
b I was frightened.
4 I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. a I feel ill.
b I am nervous.
RED TAPE Lawyers and government officials used to tie documents together with red or pink tape.
5 Just before the parachute jump, I got cold feet. a I was too scared to do it. b I couldn’t wait to do it. 6 I’m sick and tired of hearing his excuses. a It makes me feel unwell.
b I’m fed up with it happening again and again.
Exercise 3 Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
AT THE END OF YOUR TETHER A tether is a rope or chain which is used to tie an animal to a post or fence.
1 I had a few butterflies at / in / on my stomach when we were waiting to go on stage. 2 The ghost story frightened the life from / out from /out of me. 3 I had a list of questions but could barely get a word in /on /out edgeways 4 We’re sick and tired about / from / of being told we can’t do things. 5 We are at / in / on the end of our tether trying to sort this out. 6 Although everything has been organized, she is still slightly at / on / out of edge.
Exercise 4 Match sentence halves 1–6 with A–F. 1 2 3 4 5 6
She’s afraid of flying. Before the plane takes off Please take off that horrible mask. I don’t know why I feel uneasy about that man. Social media is so full of negative comments. I’m sorry I’ve been in such a bad mood recently. I was late for work – and then when I tripped on the way to the bus stop
A He just gives me the creeps, for some reason. B I´ve been on edge about work – things are very stressful at the moment. C it was the last straw! D she’s a bundle of nerves. E You scared me out of my wits! F I’m sick and tired of it.
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Exercise 5 Correct the idioms in these sentences. 1 2 3 4
He was on the edge, continually glancing behind him, thinking he was being followed. When his phone rang, he almost jumped out of his stomach. The house was silent and still and gave me the cold creeps. A BUNDLE OF NERVES A bundle is a number of She was frightened out of her tether, but somehow managed to swim things that are tied or back to shore and crawl out of the water. wrapped together. 5 On the morning of the match I was a bunch of nerves. 6 Poor Charles was totally exhausted and just about at the end of his wits.
Exercise 6 Match the questions 1–6 with the responses A–F. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Was it easy to apply for a business loan? You look uncomfortable. What’s wrong? Did Hanna report her neighbours to the police? Has Mo fixed the window yet? What’s the atmosphere like in the office? How’s the work on the house going?
A B C D E F
To be honest, everyone’s a bit on edge. Very slowly. I’m sick and tired of the whole thing. No, there was a lot of red tape. No, she got cold feet. No, I’ve asked him until I’m blue in the face. This place gives me the creeps.
Exercise 7 Do the sentences A and B have similar or different meanings? 1 A I’m a bag of nerves before any kind of performance. B I get butterflies in my stomach before any kind of performance. 2 A Kids today hear so much about this topic; they’re sick and tired of it. B Kids today hear so much about this topic; it scares the daylights out of them. 3 A Alex reaches the end of his tether with Zak when he doesn’t show up for work. B It’s the final straw for Alex when Zak doesn’t show up for work. 4 A To make the message stick, you really have to frighten them out of their wits. B To make the message stick you really have to scare the life out of them.
THE LAST STRAW The reference here is to an animal which is already carrying a lot on its back, and which collapses when one more thing is added.
5 A Throughout the discussions, I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. B Throughout the discussions, I argued my case until I was blue in the face.
Exercise 8 Choose the correct option(s) to complete the sentences. In some cases, more than one answer is possible. 1 The a hard
straw came when Nikesh refused to come to my sister’s birthday party. b final c last
2 She was a afraid
out of her wits as intruders broke into their home. b frightened
3 The other players are a sick and tired
of his behaviour. b sick to death
c scared c sick in their stomachs
4 After months of problems, the couple the end of their tether. a had come to b had reached c were at 5 Most people in his situation would be a a bag b bundle
of nerves.
6 Once, my son disappeared in the supermarket and scared the a daylights b hell
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c mess out of us. c life
Work on your Idioms Fear and frustration
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Answer key Exercise 6 1 C 2 B 3 A
Exercise 6 1 E 2 A 3 B
4 E 5 D
Exercise 7 1 the upper hand 2 the powers that be 3 out of hand 4 on top of 5 in high places 6 over the head of Exercise 8 1 C 2 E
3 F 4 A
5 D 6 B
Exercise 10 being in control
using influence
the upper hand call the shots on top of something have someone eating out of your hand put your foot down breathing down someone’s neck go over someone’s head twist someone’s arm pull strings
22 Limitations and restrictions Test yourself: overstep the mark, step on someone’s toes Exercise 1 1 a 2 b
3 b 4 a
5 b 6 c
Exercise 7 1 a, b 2 a, c 3 a, b
4 a, b, c 5 a, b, c 6 a, b
Exercise 8 1 with 2 to 3 of
4 for 5 by 6 to
Exercise 9 1 F 2 G
Exercise 9 1 keep tabs on 2 get out of hand 3 twisting your arm 4 passed the buck 5 go over his head OR put our foot down 6 put his foot down
7 c 8 b
3 C 4 D
5 H 6 E
7 B 8 A
Exercise 10 1 a fine line 2 overstepped the mark 3 off limits 4 with no strings attached 5 bend the rules 6 draw the line 7 their hands are tied 8 tread on his colleague’s toes
23 Loving and liking Test yourself: There are plenty more fish in the sea. Exercise 1 1 spot 2 patch 3 flame 4 torch
5 6 7 8
home head dreams grace
5 6 7 8
for for in above
Exercise 2 1 you are in love with them 2 ordinary 3 yes 4 not as good as you 5 they like you 6 they are worse than you Exercise 3 1 for 2 about 3 in 4 of
Exercise 2 1 F 2 D
3 B 4 C
5 E 6 A
Exercise 3 1 Jenny 2 Roger
3 Birgit’s 4 Arif’s
5 Leo 6 Atsuko
Exercise 4 1 on 2 between
Exercise 4 1 C 2 E
3 over 4 off
5 out 6 at
Exercise 5 1 b 2 b
Exercise 5 1 I’ve got my hands full. 2 free rein 3 my hands are tied 4 step on someone’s toes 5 off limits 6 overstepped the mark
4 D 5 C
3 G 4 A
5 H 6 D 3 c 4 a
7 B 8 F 5 c 6 b
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Index
The numbers refer to the unit numbers.
A a battle of wills 14 a bone of contention 14 a bundle of nerves 13 a catch 22 18 a clean bill of health 25 a close shave 19 a dead end 16 a dirty look 12 a filthy look 12 a fine line between something 22 a good bet 19 a grey area 1 a gut reaction 2 a hidden agenda 11 a labour of love 7 a last-ditch attempt 9 a last-ditch effort 9 a law unto yourself 21 a level playing field 10 a long shot 17 a mind like a sieve 2 a pain in the neck 12 a pat on the back 6 a safe bet 19 a saving grace 23 a shadow of your former self 25 a shoulder to cry on 24 a shouting match 14 a slippery slope 18 a small fortune 20 a sore point 12 a sore spot 12 a stumbling block 18 a vicious circle 18 a vicious cycle 18 a wake-up call 25 a white lie 11 an old flame 23 an own goal 18 above board 10 agree to differ 14 agree to disagree 14 alive and kicking 25 all of a sudden 17 and then some 9
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at cross purposes 3 at death’s door 25 at each other’s throats 14 at/in the back of your mind 2 at odds with someone 14 at one another’s throats 14 at the end of your tether 13
B back to the drawing board 15 be asking for trouble 18 be barking up the wrong tree 16 be breathing down someone’s neck 21 be dropping like flies 25 be economical with the truth 11 be fighting a losing battle 15 be fighting for your life 25 be playing with fire 19 be rolling in it 20 be rolling in money 20 be skating on thin ice 19 be there for someone 6 bear something in mind 2 below the belt 10 bend over backward 6 bend over backwards 6 bend the rules 22 bite off more than you can chew 18 bite someone’s head off 12 black and blue 25 blow a fuse 12 blow the whistle on someone/ something 11 break someone’s heart 24 break the ice 5 bring the house down 15 burst someone’s bubble 24 butterflies in your stomach 13 by the skin of your teeth 19
C call a spade a spade 10 call it a day 8 call it quits 8 call the shots 21
carry a torch for someone 23 clear the air 14 come clean 10 come out of your shell 3 come to a head 14 come to grips with something 16 come up in the world 15 common-or-garden 23 cost an arm and a leg 20 cover your tracks 11 cross swords 14 cross that bridge when you come to it 4 cross your mind 2 cut corners 9 cut someone some slack 6 cut to the chase 4 cut your losses 8
D do your level best 9 do something by the book 10 down in the dumps 24 down the drain 20 draw the line 22 drive someone up the wall 12
E enough is enough 8
F fair and square 10 fall flat on your face 15 fall head over heels 23 fall head over heels in love 23 feel something in your bones 17 feel the pinch 20 find common ground 3 fly off the handle 12 food for thought 2 frighten the life out of someone 13 from the frying pan into the fire 18 from the horse’s mouth 3 from scratch 8
Work on your Idioms Index
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